A frame grab from a video released by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, shows the seized Vietnamese-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. — Photo from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard

Deputy spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Pham Thu Hang, addressed questions asked by both foreign and domestic media agencies on the incident. Speaking at the virtual conference in Hanoi, she said that, after receiving reports of the seizure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam has been working with the Iranian Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnamese Embassy in Tehran, Iran, to gain clarity on the matter.

On October 27, the captain of MV Southys spoke to the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran and reported that the 26 crew members are being treated well and are in good health, according to the foreign ministry's statement.   

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted the Ministry of Transport to verify the identity of the crew members and the company owning the ship, to ensure the interests of those abroad,” Hằng said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran will work with the authorities to resolve the case and ensure the rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.

AP cited US officials’ in saying that the US had “monitored the seizure, but ultimately didn’t take action as the vessel sailed into Iranian waters”.

Source: VNS